Steam heating system



Nov. 1, 1932.

F. I. RAYMOND STEAM HEATING SYSTEM h n w Nov. 1, 1932. F. 1. RAYMOND STEAM HEATING SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed May 29, 1930 m M m Nov. 1, 1932.

F. l. RAYMOND 1,886,223

STEAM HEATING SYSTEM Original Filed May 29, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 5 k R g 0 s k 2 $5 I s s Q Q3 l E m 3 1 1 N $1 L g NOV. 1, Y ND 1,886,223

STEAM HEATING SYSTEM Original Filed May 29'. 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fledffa mon Nov. 1, 1932.

F. RAYMOND STEAM HEATING SYSTEM Original Filed May 29, 19:0

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fiza'erzz or I v ki fa 'y Patented Nov. 1 9 32 RED 1. RAYIOND, OF RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS STEAM HEATING SYSTEM Original application fled Kay 29, 1980, Serial No. 457,114, and in Canada July 4, 1929. Divided and thin application filed June 29,

My invention relates to steam heating systems whether of the so-called steam, vapor,

with steam from a system of piping for distributing the steam from a central point, the

present application being, as to certain features thereof, a division of my application for United States Letters Patent Serial No.

457,114, filed May 29, 1930, which is a continuation in part of my application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 293,293, filed July 16, 1928, now Patent N 0. 1,785,426.

Heretofore such systems presented great difiiculty of steady operation in mild weather. The size of the radiators is regularly calculated by the engineer who designs the system for the building to emit sufiicient heat, when filled with the heating medium, to heat the building to the desired temperature in the coldest weather. Such a. radiator will emit heat at practically the same rate when filled with steam at one pound pressure as it will when filled with steam at five pounds pressure. Therefore, the rate of heat delivery cannot be appreciably reduced by a reduction in pressure.

Systems have been used in which the entire system is operated under a highvacuum to reduce the rate of heat delivery from the radiators, but even at the highest vacuums obtainable in a practical heating system, the rate of heat delivery from the radiators is reduced to only about one-half the rate of heat delivery at maximum pressure yet for the greater part of the heating season less.

than one-half the maximum rate of heat delivery is required.

40 One difiiculty that has been encountered in the operation, at reduced capacity, of steam heating systems of the type operating at pressures above atmospheric pressure, is that, as the pressure in the system became reduced below a certain minimum, a tendency existed 1931. Serial No. 547,767.

to deliver all the steam to a few of the radiators and no steam to the others, as distinguished from heating all of the radiators only partially, whereas, if the pressure were carried above this minimum the radiators would be all completelyfilled with steam; and this difficulty is also present, but to a lesser extent, in systems which are equipped to operate under a vacuum.

Other systems of recent origin have been produced employing restrictions in the form of orifices in the pipes and at the radiators to cause a more evenflow of steam to all the radiators at reduced capacity and thus lling of all the make possible the partial radiators.

While these systems are much superior to those unpro'vided with such restrictions, there exists the same tendency to fill the radiators which are nearest the source of steam supply more quickly than'those' remote therefrom. While the restrictions referred to may be so calculated as to cause all of the radiators to receive substantially the sameamount of steam for any given pressure, when such pressure is reduced this balance is disturbed and thus the radiators nearest the source of heat supply will receive their quota of steam whereas the other radiators will receive a lesser amount, if any.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a novel apparatus for effecting the controlling of the supply of steam from a single point through a systemof pipes to a pluralityof radiators, to the end of over- 0 coming to a very great degree the difiiculties which have been presented by systems hitherto provided.

Other, more specific objects, are as follows:

To provide for the insuring of the delivery as of the heating medium to all of the radiators in the system whenever the line with which the radiators are connected is opened to the heat supply. 7

To provide as nearly as possible the same 90 temperature, the last radiators of the series as in the radiators thereof.

To provide for the insuring of the delivery of the heating medium to all of the radiators of the series thereof and at the same time produce a reduced rate of heat delivery therefrom.

To provide for the opening of the radiators to the source of heat supply before the line with which the radiators are connected becomes cold.

To provide a novel apparatus whereby the pressure in the steam main will normally oscillate from a higher to a lower pressure instead of being held at a constant pressure.

To provide for the maintaining of the heat-delivering main, as nearly as possible, normally full of steam, or vapor, at a non flowing pressure with occasional elevation of such pressure to cause the steam, or vapor, to flow into the radiators.

To provide for the utilization of the temperature of one of the radiators of a series thereof for controlling the rate of heat deor the same relative filling in rst livery from all of the other radiators thereof. a To provide for the more nearly uniform delivery of heat simultaneously by a series of radiators fed from a single main, than is possible under systems of control hitherto provided.

To provide for the more nearly uniform delivery of heat simultaneously by a series of radiators fed from a single main and in response to re uirements for different degrees of heat depen ing upon the outside temperature, than is possible with systems of control as hitherto rovided; and other objects as will be mani est from the following description. 1

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a steam heating system of the standard one-pipe type and constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view of a standard vacuum steam heating system constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 3 isa similar view of a standard steam heating vacuum system, the radiators of which are supplied with steam from an outside source, constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view of an electrical switch device for controlling the heat-generating element of the constructions of either Figs. 1 or 2 and operated responsive to the rise of temperature in the system and the action of which is modified by the outside temperature.

Figure 5 is a view like Fig. 4 of the electrical switch device controlling the supplying of steam to the radiators of the apparatus of Fi 3. I

Figure 6 is a view in elevation of one of the radiators of a heating system in which my invention may be incor orated, this view showing one form in whic the apparatus for controlling the delivery of steam to the radiators, responsive to the temperature of one radiator, may be controlled.

Figure 7 is a similar view showing how the temperature-responsive portions of the apparatus may be located on a different type of radiator.

Figure 8 shows a modification of the apparatus above referred to whereby the internal temperature of the radiator is utilized in the controlling of the supplying of heat to the radiators, instead of the exterior surface temperature thereof as in the case of the structure illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7; and

Figure 9, a similar view of a radiator of the so-called fin type showing associated therewith the mechanism operated responsive to the heat of the radiator, for controlling the supplying of heat to the radiator.

Referring to the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, 10 represents a steam boiler heated by an oil burner represented at 11, the operation of which is controlled by the means herein after described.

The boiler 10 is shown connected with a steam main 12 having branch pipes or risers 13 which lead to a series of radlators represented at 14 and shown as located in different rooms 15 of a building to be heated. The end of the steam main is provided with an air vent 16 operating to permit the escape therethrough of air but closing against the esca e of steam or water of condensation. e

steam main 12 terminates in the return line 17 through which the condensate flows back to the boiler 10.

In accordance with this particular embodiment of my invention the control of the burner 11 is effected responsive to the temperature of the last one of the radiators of the series thereof, namely, the one farthest from the boiler, the mechanism shown for this purpose being operative to effect such control upon the attainment of a temperature at the radiator depending upon the outside temperature.

The mechanism shown for this purpose comprises a compound thermostat 18 (by whichis intended the instrument responsive to temperature fluctuations at the radiator modified by the outside temperature) formed of a tiltable mercury tube 19 (Fig. 4) mounted on a disk 20 secured to the inner, free, end of a Bourdon tube 21, the outer endrof which is fixed, as represented at 22, to the stationary casing 23 of the thermostat, the tube 19 containin a pair of contacts 24 and 25 adapted to conta t with a body 26 of mercury in the tube when the latter is tilted to the position shown in'Fig. 4, the contacts 24 and 25 being connected, respectively, with wires 27 and 28, which respectively connect with the line wire 29 and a terminal 30 of the motor of the oil burner, the other terminal 31 of this motor connecting with the other line wire 32.

The tube 21 is operated responsive to the cumulative pressure existing therein responsiveto the temperature at the last radiator and the outside temperature, by means of bulb structures represented at 33 and 34 one of which is located at the last radiator and the other in a position to be subjected to the outside temperature, in the particular construction shown by locating it at the outer surface of the building.

The bulb structures 33 and 34 are connected with the interior of the tube 21 by p1pes 35 and 36, respectively, which together with the tube 21 and bulb structures 33 and 34, contain a fluid which expands and contracts ap preciably with changes of temperature.

The bulbstructure 33 which, in the particular construction shown, is positioned against the last coil of the last radiator, may be a single bulb preferably of relatively great length to be secured in any suitable way, to contact with portions of the radiator surfaces which are variably heated when the radiator is only partially filled with steam, or it may be a bulb or tube which projects into the radiator as in the construction shown in Fig. 8 wherein such a bulb is represented at 33a, or it may be, and preferably is, formed of a plurality of bulbs, as for example as represented at 37 and 38 in Figs. 6, 7 and 9, connected in series in the pipe 35, the portion of this pipe extending between these bulbs being flexible and adapting these bulbs to be positioned in different relative positions, as desired, against the radiator.

The control of the oil burner being in re-' sponse to the attainment of a certain degree of temperature at the last radiator, depending on the outside temperature in the particular apparatus shown, the supplying of steam to all of the radiators fed from the main line 12, or at least to the risers to all of the radiators, before the last radiator can be heated sufficiently toshut off the burner, is insured.

In order to illustrate the operation of the apparatus the various cycles of operation of a heating system under the control of the apparatus now being described, will be considered.

Then the control thermostat 18 starts the oil burner into operation, the steam generat ed thereby is forced into the piping and the radiators, finally reaching the control radia tor at the end of the steam main. Steam continues to be supplied to the radiators until this last radiator has been brought to the correct average temperature which is determined by the outside temperature, whereupon the mercury tube 19 of the thermostat 18 becomes tilted into a position to break the circuit at the contacts 24 and 25, whereupon steam ceases to be suppliedtothe steam main.

pipe steam system as well as in a two During this cycle of operations the steam main has become completely filled with steam,

since steam must reach the last radiator before the control thermostat 18 operates, but

the amount of steam entering the radiators may be unequal depending on how well the piping is balanced and on the condition of the air valves with which each radiator is equipped in accordance with common practice. I

Uponthe condensing of the steam in the control radiator and the dropping of its average temperature below the correct level the thermostat again automatically operates to again start the oil burner to resume the generation of steam. Meanwhile steam has been condensing in the other radiators at a rate proportionate to the surface thereof in contact with steam, so that the least filled radiator condenses the least steam. Steam has also been condensing in the steam mains but due to the fact that the radiators generally cool ofl' more rapidly than the steam mains, especially when the steam mains are covered, the steam mains will generally be kept full of steam during the period when the radiators were cooling.

As the thermostat 18 starts the generation of steam for the second time, with the steam main full of steam, the steam will start to flow into all the radiators'ahnost simultaneously causing approximately equal amounts of steam to be supplied to each radiator. Thus with the radiators containing the least steam tending to condense less and the bursts of steam pressure at frequent intervals tending to send equal amounts of steam into each radiator, there will be a decided tendency for the steam to equalize inthe radiators after a few cycles thereby producing the same relative degree of partial filling in all the radiators and consequently the same average temperature of the radiators.

This tendency to equalize will be present even in systems which have not been balanced by the insertion of restricting orifices in the branch lines and it will be present in a one 1 e steam s stem. The most'perfect distribu ti n will, of course, be found in a balanced system rather than inan unbalanced system under this control. However, the distribution will often be highly satisfactory under this control even in an unbalanced system.

Referring now to the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 which is of a standard vacuum steam heating type, 39 represents a steam boiler heated by an oil burner represented at 40. The boiler 39 is shown connected with a steam main 41 having branch pipes, or risers, 42 which leadto a series of radiators represented at 43 and shown as located in different rooms of a building to be heated. The end of the steam main 41 is provided with a steam trap 44 which opens to the passage of air and .return pipe 45 connects,

49 of which opens into the inlet of a-pump return the condensate to the boiler through a pipe 51. Extending upwardy into the tank 48 is a pipe 52 connected with the inlet of a suction pump'53, the outlet of which is represented at 54. The rotors of the pumps 50 and 53 are mounted on a shaft 55 shown as driven by a motor 56.

The operationof the motor 40 is controlled in the same manner as the motor 11 of the apparatus of Fig. 1, the contact-making thermostat, and corresponding with the thermostat 18 of Fig. 1, being represented at 57 and the bulb elements, corresponding with the elements 33 and 34, represented at 58 and 59, respectively.

In this apparatus the operation of the suction pump 53 causes suctlon to be produced in the steam main 41, the return pipe 45 and 50 which operates to the radiators 43, thereby causing steam tov 41 and the radiators at a lower temperature than in the case of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1 which requires raising the temperature of the water to substantially 212 F. before steam s generated for passage into the steam main and the radiators.

The provision of the thermostat 57 ,controlled responsive to the temperature of the last radiator of the series thereof, modified by the outside temperature by reason of the provision of the bulb element 59, causes th1s apparatus to function to supply substantially the same amount of heat to each radiator as explained of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

The apparatus of Fig. 3 is the same as that shown in Fig. 2 except that, instead of providin a heat-generating element (the boiler 39) t e operation of which is controlled responsive to the compound thermostat, steam is supplied to the steam main with wh ch the radiators are connected through a pipe leading from an outside source of steam sup ply and provision is made for controlling the supplying of steam from such outside source to the steam main.

The steam main referred to is represented at 60 and is connected, by risers 61, with the inlets of the radiators 62 of a series thereof, the end of this steam main being provided with a steam trap 63 which,'together with the outlets of the radiators 62, connects with a return pipe 64 opening into a condensate tank 65 the outlet 66 of which communicates with the inlet of a pump 67 for discharge of the condensate to any desired point, as for example back to the source of steam supply. A vacuum pump 68, connected at its inlet with a pipe 69 opening into the upper portion of the tank 65 serves to create the desired enter the steam main degree of vacuum in the system. As in the construction shown in Fig. 2 the pumps 67 and 68 are driven by a single motor70.

The pipe leading from the outside source of steam supply is represented at 71 and connects with the pipe 60 through a valve 72 the stem 73 of which is pivotally connected at 74 with the lever 75 pivoted at one end, as represented at 76, to the lower end of a link 77 pivoted, at 78, tothe casing of the valve 72 and at its other end, as represented at 79, to the upper end of a link 80 the lower end of which is connected with a crank 81 of any suitable mechanism for opening and closing the valve 72 responsive to the temperature at the control radiator modified, in the particular arrangement shown, by the outside temperature. I

In the arrangement shown, the mechanism just referred to and represented at 82 is the same as that commonly provided for thermostatically actuating the dampers of a coalburning furnace and therefore need not be described in detail the three electric terminals as commonly provided on the mechanism being represented at 83', 84 and 85.

The thermostatic device for controlling the actuation of the mechanism 82 which is operated responsive to the control radiator temperature, modified by the outside temperature, is represented at 86. This thermostat comprises a tiltable mercury tube 87 mounted on a disk 88 connected with the free end of a spiral Bourdon tube 89, the opposite end of which is fixed, as represented at 90, to the stationary casing 91 of this thermostat, as in the case of the construction shown in Fig. 4.

The tube 87 is provided with two pairs of contacts 92 and 93, and 94 and 95, these pairs being disposed at opposite ends of the tube 87 to be alternately bridged by a body of mercury 96a located in the tube 87. When the tube is tilted to the position shown in Fig. 5 the contacts 92 and 93 are bridged by the mercury and when tilted in clockwise direction in this figure, the mercury bridges the contacts 94 and 95. The contact 92 is connectcd by a wire 96 with the terminal of the mechanism 82; the contacts 93 and 94 are connected, by wires 97 and 98, to a single wire 99 which connects with the main line wire 100. The other main line wire 101 connects with the terminal 84 and the contact 95 connects, by a wire 102, with the terminal 83. \Vhen the tube 87 is tilted to engage the mercury 96a. with the contacts 94 and 95, current is supplied to the mechanism 82 for rotating the crank 81 throughout 180 amass res onsive to the temperature at the control ra iator, modified by the outside temperature,

through the medium of the bulb'elements 103 and 104 corresponding with the bulb ele ments 33 and 34, respectively, of Fig. 1 in the same manner as in the case of the thermostat means of Figs. 1 and 2.

While I have shown in each of the three types of apparatus illustrated, the controlling of the heat supply by means which operate responsive to the temperature in, or at, the last radiator of a plurality thereof, I do not wish to be understood as intending to so limit it, as an equivalent method of control producin eit er equally accurate control as is eflectc by the control from the last radiator or an approach to accurate control may be employed within my invention.

Thus, by way of example, the temperature in, or at, any portion of the heating apparatus, at a point remote from the source of steam supply, as for example the boiler, may be utilized as the control for the mechanism controlling the supplying of heat, the effectiveness of the control to produce substantial- 1 equal heat transmission at each radiator, depending upon how closely such modification ofapparatus approaches in its efliciency of operation, the operation of a system in which the control is effected by the temperature of the last radiator of a plurality thereof.

A measure of successful operation could be obtained by controlling the steam supply of the radiators at some point in the ,system immediately adjacent the last radiator, namely, by way of example in a two-pipe steam system, the temperature of the return line leading from the last radiator could be used with advantage. In certain instances the utilizing of the temperature of the branch line leading to the last radiator for control of the heating medium would result in the successful control of the apparatus.

The control of the heat supplying means by 1 the temperature of a radiator other than the last one of a plurality thereof may be provided for with advantage over controls as hitherto provided especially if a restriction is introduced into one of the branch lines leading to such radiator. Furthermore, a radiator connected to the heat supply by a line individual to it with such a restriction that the flow of steam would flow into it substantially in timed relation to the flow of steam into the last radiator of a plurality thereof, as the controlling influence for the thermostat, would result in the satisfactory control.

While I have illustrated and described my invention as embodied in apparatuses each of which involves as an element thereof the control of the supplying of heat responsive to the temperature of the apparatus produced by the heating medium modified by the outside temperature, it will be understood that any other desirable means for controlling the temperature of the system to govern the degree of heat transmission by the radiators for different outside temperatures may be employed. Thus any desirable mechanism adjustable manuall for outdoor temperatures ma be rovide and if desired, the operation of the eat-supplying means to be made responsive to the attainment of'any desired temperature in or at the control radiator, within certain limits, by the heat-responsive element, or'elements, may be'adapted for adjustment into different positions relative to the zones of differential heating of the control radiator, as for example by the adjusting of the single bulb element at the radiator into diflerent positions therein orinto diflerent angular positions, or therelative adjustment of thetandem-dispos'ed relatively adjustable bulbs.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by letters patent, is: I

1. In a steam-heating system," a source of heat supply, a plurality of radiators, and means for regulating the rate of heat-delivery from said radiators comprising thermostatic means attached to the s stem ata point remote from the source of heat supply, means controlled by said thermostatic means for controlling the supplying of the heating medium to all of the radiators and means for adjusting said thermostatic means in accordance with the re uirements for heat.

2. In a steameatin system, a plurality of radiators, and means or regulating the rate of heat-delivery from said radiators comprising thermostatic means attached to one of said radiators, means controlled by said thermostatic means for controlling the supplying of the heating medium to all ofthe radiators and means for adjusting said thermostatic means in accordance with the requirements for heat.

3. In a steam-heating system, a plurality of-radiators, and means forregulating the rate of heat-delivery from said radiators comprising thermostatic means attached to the one of the radiators to which the steam has the greatest length of travel from the point where it enters the system, means controlled b said thermostatic means for c0n trollingt e suptplying of the heating-medium to all of the ra iators and means for adjusting said thermostatic means in accordance with the requirements for heat.

4. In a steam-heating s of radiators, and means rate of heat-delive comprising a or regulating the from said radiators plurality of thermostatic devices attached to different portions of one of the radiators, and means controlled by said thermostatic devices for controlling the supplying of the heating medium to all of the radiators.

5. In a steam-heating system, a plurality of radiators, and means for regulating the rate of heat-delivery from said radiators stem, a plurality comprising a plurality of thermostatic de-i vices attached to difierent portions-of one of the-radiators and relatively adjustable :tor

ntacting with different portions of the ra- 'ators, and means controlled by said thermostatic devices for controlling the supplying of the heating medium to all of the radiators.

6. In a steam-heating system,-a plurality of radiators, and means for regulatingvthe rate of heat-delivery from said radiators comprising a plurality of thermostatic de-; vices attached to difierent portions of one of the radiators, means controlled by said thermostatic devices forcontrollin the suppl ing of the heating medium to a l of the ra iators and means for adjusting said thirdnamed means in accordance with the requirements for heat.

7. In a steam-heating system, in combina tion heating apparatus including a source of steam supply, a pluralit of radiators, and conduits connectlng sai source and radiators; means for regulating the rate of heat delivery from said radiators comprising a plurality of thermostats, one exposed to outside temperature and one attached to said apparatus at a point remote from said source, and means controlled by an average of the temperatures at said thermostats for controlling the supply of heat from said source.

8. In a steam-heating system, in combination heatin apparatus including a source of steam supp y, a plurali of radiators, and conduits connectlng sai source and radiators; means for regulating the rate of heat delivery from said radiators comprising a plurality of thermostats one connected to a radiator remote from said source and one exposed to outside temperature and thermo static responsive means actuated by an average of temperatures at said thermostats for controlling supply of steam from said source.

9. In a steam-heating system, in combination heatin apparatus including a source of steam supp y, a pluralit of radiators and conduits connecting sai source and radiators; a plurali of thermostats, one connected to the radiator to which the steam has the greatest length 01 travel from said so urce and one exposed to outside temperature" and thermostatic responsive means controlled by an average between the temperatures at said thermostats for controlling the supply of steam from said source to the radiators.

10. In a steam-heating system, in combination: heating apparatus comprising a source of steam supply, radiators and conduits connecting said source'a'nd radiators; and means for regulating the rate of heat delivery from said radiators comprising a thermostat connected to the one of the radiators last to be come heated to the desired temperature when the system is cold, means actuated by said thermostat for controlling supply of steam from said source to all of said radiators and meansfor adjustingi in accordance with e requirements or heat. 11. In a steam-heating system, a source of said controllin means heat su ply, a plurality of radiators, and

means or regulating the rate of heat-delivery from said radiators comprising thermostatic means attached to the system at a point remote from the source of. heat supply, and means controlled by said thermostatic means for controlling the supplying of the heating medium to all of the radiators.

FRED I. RAYMOND. 

